Log 146; Day 409; July 4, 2009; Inner Harbor Marina; Baltimore, MD

Log 146
Day 409
Saturday, July 04, 2009

7:20 AM EDT
Location: Inner Harbor Marina; Baltimore, MD.
Weather: 69 degrees with light wind; forecasted to be 86 and sunny today

Happy Independence Day...

I got up too early, again this morning...4:30. Not exactly sure why. Nothing on my mind, and nothing to get up for. Well, other than the usual excitement of living on a boat. I worked on the computer for an hour or so, and sent off the log I wrote yesterday, then decided to take a walk around the area and find some cool spot for breakfast. I walked for 45 minutes, and asked about 6 folks if they knew where a place for breakfast was, and no one knew of a spot (other then something in one of the hotels, and I’m going there). So...after the walk, I came back to the boat and made a poached egg, with 3 slices of bacon. Now I’m back at the computer, a fresh cup of coffee, and decided to write today’s log.

It’s a picture perfect day here in downtown Baltimore. Not cold. Not hot. Not a cloud in the sky, and very light winds. We’re in the nicest harbor in Baltimore, with the nicest boats. For me...this is heaven.

Yesterday...I got up about 5:30, with all intentions of doing a log, and I did, but just as I was about to finish it, Deb got up. You could tell something was bothering her, and I knew what it was. The smell from inside the refrigerator was driving her crazy. Before she had got up, I had gone online and checked out a place to buy a new refrigerator, and I told her I would call, as soon as they opened up. She got real excited, until we found out that the refrigerator would not fit through our doorway going to the salon. I know, it sounds crazy, but they must have installed the door after they built the salon, and, from what I can see, taking off the door will be a MAJOR project. So...we decided that based on the cost of a new refrigerator, and the difficulty of taking off the door, we would try to make the existing refrigerator work. Neither of us were happy about this, but we had to move on.

We left the dock at Anchor Bay at about 8:45 and headed south, out to the Patapsco River. When we got back to the Patapsco (which is the main ship channel from the Chesapeake to Baltimore Harbor) we decided to take a quick detour of about 4 miles to check out Maryland Yacht Club. We had read, on an email blog, that they were offering $1 per foot dockage (we are paying $2.50 @ foot at Inner Harbor) for members of the Great Loop Assc. so we wanted to see if it was a nice place, and something we should consider while we are in this area. It turns out that it was a nice spot (although very remote) so I’m sure we will spend some time there either before heading to NYC, or on our way back. Back on the Patapsco, we headed West, about 8 miles, to the Inner Harbor. After tying up; checking in; and getting settled, we decided to jump in the dinghy and go get a big cooler (to store food in) and some groceries (Deb feels like some of the groceries are picking up an odor from the refrigerator). We found out that there is a great place to dinghy to, that is only a couple of miles away (an easy dingy ride). They have a dinghy dock, and just across the street is a Safeway grocery store, and 1 block away is a West Marine. It was perfect. We bought a 72 quart cooler, some groceries, and we were back at the boat in a couple of hours. Once we got back, Deb took everything out of the refrigerator, and either put it in our small refrigerator on the back deck, or in our new cooler. Once empty, she, again, wiped everything in the refrigerator down with a bleach solution, and put in the refrigerator, new charcoal; coffee; and baking soda (all supposed to absorb smells). Our plan is to continue to do this until the refrigerator does not smell. If this does not work, I’m not exactly sure what we’ll do.

Today...we have no plans as of yet. I’m sure it will be a busy day around the harbor, with lots of boat (and people) traffic. We are in a perfect spot to watch it all. I’m not exactly sure where they will set off the fireworks, but it will be very close to our boat, and we will have a perfect view of everything going on.

I’ll keep you posted.

Bob